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| NHS surgeons opting out of performance tables to be named | NHS surgeons opting out of performance tables to be named |
| (4 months later) | |
| Doctors who decide not to disclose details of their performance will be named by the government, it has emerged. | Doctors who decide not to disclose details of their performance will be named by the government, it has emerged. |
| The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said there was no valid reason why consultants should not make their figures available. | The health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, said there was no valid reason why consultants should not make their figures available. |
| It is understood Hunt has asked officials to draw up plans to publish the patient death rates of NHS doctors as early as next month and, subject to legal requirements, he wants every consultant to be obliged to disclose the details. Those who refuse will be named. | It is understood Hunt has asked officials to draw up plans to publish the patient death rates of NHS doctors as early as next month and, subject to legal requirements, he wants every consultant to be obliged to disclose the details. Those who refuse will be named. |
| Hunt said: "Subject to proper risk adjustment of the data there can be no valid reason why it should not be published – and the majority of consultants strongly support the case for doing so. | Hunt said: "Subject to proper risk adjustment of the data there can be no valid reason why it should not be published – and the majority of consultants strongly support the case for doing so. |
| "In an era of public concern over patient safety issues at Mid Staffordshire hospital, this will be a major step forward in restoring public confidence." | "In an era of public concern over patient safety issues at Mid Staffordshire hospital, this will be a major step forward in restoring public confidence." |
| The health secretary made the comments after it was reported that doctors would be given the opportunity to opt out of the new league tables which assess their performance. | The health secretary made the comments after it was reported that doctors would be given the opportunity to opt out of the new league tables which assess their performance. |
| The tables, which are central to government plans for a more transparent NHS, aim to show patients how well consultant-led surgical teams in hospitals across England are performing against each other. | The tables, which are central to government plans for a more transparent NHS, aim to show patients how well consultant-led surgical teams in hospitals across England are performing against each other. |
| The move, announced under the NHS mandate, aims to "shine a light on variation and unacceptable practice". | The move, announced under the NHS mandate, aims to "shine a light on variation and unacceptable practice". |
| But it emerged that doctors may be able to refuse to disclose the details under data protection laws, an option which medical officials say is based on legal advice that publishing the data without consent could breach the Data Protection Act. | But it emerged that doctors may be able to refuse to disclose the details under data protection laws, an option which medical officials say is based on legal advice that publishing the data without consent could breach the Data Protection Act. |
| A Royal College of Surgeons spokesman confirmed doctors would need to consent to the figures being published later this year, but said early feedback suggested few would opt out. | A Royal College of Surgeons spokesman confirmed doctors would need to consent to the figures being published later this year, but said early feedback suggested few would opt out. |
| "We don't have firm figures yet but the early indications are that the numbers consenting to this are very high," he said. "There is no attempt to hide poor performance. | "We don't have firm figures yet but the early indications are that the numbers consenting to this are very high," he said. "There is no attempt to hide poor performance. |
| "All consultant surgeons performing procedures which are the subject of the national clinical audits in England have been asked to consent to having their data published and we are encouraging them to do so." | "All consultant surgeons performing procedures which are the subject of the national clinical audits in England have been asked to consent to having their data published and we are encouraging them to do so." |
| An NHS England spokesman said there was a lot of support for the tables among consultants, with around 96% of respondents opting in to the publication. | An NHS England spokesman said there was a lot of support for the tables among consultants, with around 96% of respondents opting in to the publication. |
| "We urge all consultants to think very carefully about the effect on their patients and their colleagues if they choose to opt out on the basis of legislation designed to protect personal data," the spokesman said. "The publication of consultant-level data for 10 surgical specialties heralds a new level of openness, but there is some way to go before the NHS is as transparent as it should be." | "We urge all consultants to think very carefully about the effect on their patients and their colleagues if they choose to opt out on the basis of legislation designed to protect personal data," the spokesman said. "The publication of consultant-level data for 10 surgical specialties heralds a new level of openness, but there is some way to go before the NHS is as transparent as it should be." |
| A Department of Health spokesman said: "Patients should be able to see how individual senior doctors are performing. That principle has been agreed for many years and has been successfully implemented in cardiac surgery." | A Department of Health spokesman said: "Patients should be able to see how individual senior doctors are performing. That principle has been agreed for many years and has been successfully implemented in cardiac surgery." |
| Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said: "We expect doctors to put their patients first. We're living in an increasingly transparent age where doctors are expected to be open about their practice." | Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said: "We expect doctors to put their patients first. We're living in an increasingly transparent age where doctors are expected to be open about their practice." |
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